Animal Studies Targeted Grade Level -- 4 Developed by National Science Resource Center Distributed by Carolina Biological Supply Comapny

Animal Studies Module Overview

By caring for and observing three animals from different habitats--the dwarf African frog, the fiddler crab, and the land snail--students learn about what animals need to survive, the primary parts of their anatomical structure, and how they adapt to their environments. The children create and maintain individual animal logs in which they record their observations of the animals over time. These observations focus on key elements of the animals' habitats such as climate, food and water, moisture, and light. Toward the end of the unit, students apply what they have learned about structure, habitat, survival needs, and behavior to study a fourth classroom animal, the human. Building on the knowledge and skills they have acquired throughout the unit, students focus on one animal's behavior and conduct their own research project. The unit enhances students' sensitivity to the diversity of life, the interdependence of living and nonliving things, how creatures adapt to their environments, and how scientists learn about animals.

Descriptions of the Science and Technology for Children ^tm (STC) units © 1997 National Academy of Sciences. Reproduced with permission from the National Science Resources Center (NSRC), Washington, DC. For more information about the STC ^tm program and other NSRC programs and activities visit the NSRC web site. For information on ordering the STC ^tm curriculum visit the Carolina Biological Supply Company web site.

These web pages were initially created by Pat Lann, Athens City Schools, and Kay Walker, Gordon-Bibb Elementary School, Decatur City Schools. Please address comments or questions to hasp@dcs.edu

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